Icardi double lifts Inter Milan second in Serie A

MILAN, Oct 30: Mauro Icardi scored in either half as
Inter Milan beat Lazio 3-0 under the rain in Rome on
Monday to move ahead of Napoli and into second place
behind Juventus in Serie A, reports AFP.
Inter skipper Icardi tapped in the opener after 28
minutes with Marcelo Brozovic adding a second before
the break.
The Argentine snatched the third after 70 minutes in
the Stadio Olimpico, as Inter with 22 points from 10
games overtook Napoli on goal difference.
Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli were held 1-1 by Roma on
Sunday.
Inter and Napoli are both six points behind Juventus
who beat Empoli 2-1 on Saturday thanks to a Cristiano
Ronaldo double.
"We're on the right track," said Icardi after his
side's sixth straight league win.
It was also his sixth league goal this season.
"I'm going through a good period of form along with
Inter. We're playing well, apart from the game with
Barcelona (2-0 Champions League defeat), and want to
do even better."
"We're not the anti-Juventus, as we're a few steps
away to reach what they've done in recent years, but
we are happy with what we are doing."
Luciano Spalletti's side controlled the game which
had been in doubt all afternoon because of strong
winds and rain in Rome.
With just one point separating the two sides the
match was also an important step in the race for
Champions League places next season.
Inter had snatched the final Champions League spot
from Lazio on the last day of last season, condemning
Simone Inzaghi's side to the Europa League.
Under sudden bursts of torrential rain, the game
sprung to life with Icardi's opener after 28 minutes.
Perisic crossed for Matias Vecino, who flicked on to
Icardi to finish off.
Shortly afterwards the rain began to bucket down with
Lazio's Croatian midfielder Milan Badelj going off
injured to be replaced by Danilo Cataldi.
But Inter continued their charge with Brozovic
getting the the second after 41 minutes, firing into
the bottom left corner.
The visitors seemed more at ease on the water logged
pitch continuing to dictate play.
Lazio did not give up with Samir Handanovic pushing
an Adam Marusic effort over the bar.
But they were only sporadic signs of a fightback with
Icardi drilling in the third with ease from a
distance.
Lazio remain fourth but have not lost to all their
leading rivals - Juventus, Napoli, Roma and now
Inter.
"I admit we deserved to lose this evening," said
coach Inzaghi.
"Against the big teams Lazio lack the conviction we
have in other matches. These teams are built to win
titles.
"Now we want to get back on track against SPAL."